Automatic photographing and developing machine.



C. F. ROTH & R. A. KELLER.

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING AND DEVELOPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22. I914.

1,177,539. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- 3 wuauto'm CFfioffilZ @XHinaooen v 6/ .17 .[v I 5 1 wym attowcq C. F.ROTH & R. A. KELLER. AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING'AND DEVELOPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 22, 1914. 7 1,177,539, Patented Mar. 28,1916.

I 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- la c yHZXW C. F. ROTH & R. A. KELLERQ AUTOMATICPHOTOGRAPHING AND DEVELOPING MAEHINE. APPLICATION F ILED SEPT. 22, 1914.

1,177,539. I Patented Mar. 28, 1916;

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

C. F. ROTH & R. A. KELLER. AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING AND DEVELOPINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1914. 1,177,539. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

3 nucmtou C. F. ROTH (I; R. A. KELLER.

AUTOMATIC PHOT-OGRAPHING AND DEVELOPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22,1914.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

c. F. ROTH & R. A. KEELER. AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING AND DEVELOPINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 22, I914. 1,177,539. Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6 amines 1 50p same to the purchaser.

" H in Fig. 3,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON F. ROTH AND ROBERT A. KELLER, F ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING AND DEVELOQPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Mar. 28,1916.

Application filed September 22, 1914. Serial No. 862,999.

To all whom it may concern;

. Be it known that we, CLINTON F. Ro'rrr and ROBERT A. KELLER, citizensof the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh andState of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Im-.

automatically v photographing an' object or personnpon a film or plate,developing. the exposed film or plate and delivering the The inventioncontemplates, among other features, the provision of a machine which ispreferably adapted for use in amusement parks and the like, and whichcontemplates a structure adapted to operate when a coin is inserted inthe casing of the machine, the

device being preferably operated by electricity and entirely automaticin its operation of photographing a person or object I upon the film orplate. developing or finishing the said film or plate and delivering thesame to the purchaser or person whose photograph was taken.

Still further embodiments of the invention reside in a structure whichcan be made up in a compact form to take up very little room and which,if desired, can be conveniently mounted upon a stand to present a neatand effective appearance.

In the further disclosure of the invention reference is to be had to theaccompanyingdrawings, constituting a part of this specification, ters ofreference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the top of the boxor casing, showing in plan the structural arrangement of the machine;Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 IS a fragmentary verticalsectional view of the coin operated switch; Fig. 4 1s a verticaltransverse sectional view taken on the line looking in the direction ofthearrow; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on theline 5-5 in Fig.

i 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig.

elevation of the 6 is a fragmentary side looking at one magazine; Fig. 7is a view in which similar charac-- and has its upper plate 10, thelower end of the coin chute beend' of the magazine, showing theoperating mechanisms therefor; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary verticallongitudinal sectional View of themagazine, showing the manner ofdeposlting a film or plate in the holder; Fig. 9 1s a fragmentaryhorizontal sectional view taken on the line 99 in Fig. 1, showing thedeta l of the spring of the magazine; Fig. 10 1s a horizontal sectionalview taken through the plate or film holder; Fig. 11 is a fragmentaryside elevation-of a tank and holder, the dotted linesindicating theman-1 ner of depositing a film or plate in the tank; Fig. 12 is afragmentary vertical sectional view of the tank, reservoir and cleaningdevices; Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 13-13 inFig. 2; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional viewshowing in detail the mechanism for operating the developing trays andcleaning device; Fig. 15' is a vertical sectional view taken through theshaft carrying the shutterand flash operating gear, said gear beingshown in elevation; Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken throughthe same shaft, showing the film holder operating gear, with the lattershown in elevation; Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view takenthroughthe same shaft, showing the film tank operating gear, the latter beingshown in section; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of one of the cam likeoperating members; and Fig. 19 is a perspective view of on its top asuitable hood 10*, with a comopening 10 formed in the front of the box,as clearly shown in Fig. 19, said box being further provided with anexterior hood 10 through which the finished picture is adapted to beprojected into the hand of the user.

A plate 10 borders the coin opening 10 and a coin chute 12 passesthrough theopening end terminating at the ing arranged to depend into acoin box 12 suitably supported in the box 10 and which coin box hasconnected thereto a coin chute 12 extending downwardly in the box 10 andcommunicating with a coin receptacle 12 supported on a suitableplatform13 in the box 10. The coin box 12 has an electric wire 14connected thereto and mounted to slide in the coin box is a plate 14- towhich is attached another electric wire 14, said wires 5 14 and 14connecting with a suitable motor 15 arranged within the box and alsoconnecting with a main circuit 16 passing outwardly from the box 10. Aplunger 14 has a portion thereof projecting eXteri'orly of 10 the casingand its inner end lying within the coin box 12*, said plungerbeing heldin normal position by a spring 14. The plate 14 carries a projection 14and which is normally spaced from the inner end of the plun- 15 ger 14,said space being sufficient to permit the reception of a coin 14therein. Now it will be clearly seen that when a coin is inserted in thecoin slot or opening 10 said coin will pass downwardly through the coinchute and then into the box 12 to lie between the inner end of theplunger 14 and the free end of the projection 14. The lower end of thecoin chute 12 and the upper end,

I of the coin chute 12 are out of vertical alineinent so that whenpressure is applied to the exterior end of the plunger the coin 14 willbe moved forwardly in the coin box to bear against the projection 14,thus moving the plate 14 forwardly into contact with the inner end ofthe coin box and to which is attached the wire 14, thus closing theelectric circuit in the box 10 and resulting in the operation of themotor 15, while at the same time the coin, coming into alinement withthe coin chute 12", will gravitate into the same and be received. in thecoin receptacle 12.

The rotation of the motor 15 results in the operation of the motor shaft15, and which is suitably supported in the box 10 in journals15 A shaft16*journaled in the box 10 is connected with the motor shaft 15 by asuitable chain 15 and a stub shaft 17 j ournaled in the box hasconnection with the motor shaft 15 through the medium of a suitablechain 15. Journaled in the box is another shaft 18 and which isconnected by a chain 15 to the stub shaft 17, this .construction beingclearly seen in Figs. 2 and 5. 5'0 Suitable toothed wheels 15 arecarried by the various shafts 15, 16, 17 and 18 and over which thevarious chains mentioned operate in order to connect the shafts so thatwhen the motor 15 is set in operation the said shafts will alsobeoperated. It will be clearly seen, however, that by making the toothedwheels 15 largeror smaller as desired the shafts mentioned will operateat different speeds which object is particularly necessary in-theaccurate and proper operation of the machine. A magazine 19 is arrangedto slide upon a suitable floor or base 19*supported in the box 10 andwhich is preferably provided '65 with an opening 19?, said magazine '19being 19 in the base 19.

subdivided into a series of compartments 19 in which are disposed plates20 adapted to be individually received in a plate holder 21 arrangedupon the magazine 19 and is normally engaged by a swingingly supportedp'awl 19 supported on the base 19, and 30 which is adapted to beoperated by a lever 19 mounted to swing upon the base and adapted to beengaged by a' pin 22 projecting from a disk 22 carried on the shaft 18which, journaled in the box 10, is connected 5 by suitable gears 23 witha shaft 23. Now it will be clearly seen that when the shaft 18 isrotated, thus imparting rotation to the disk 22, the pin 22, engagingthe free end of the lever 19, will actuate the pawl 19, thusdisengagingw the same from the rack 19 and permitting the magazine 19,through the medium of the pull exerted on the cord 19 toadvance adistance sufficient to permit .one

of the plates 20 to pass through the opening 95.

19 and be deposited in the plate holder 21 arranged beneath the opening.The plate holder is so arranged that the plate, when received in theholder, willhave its sensitized face in the horizontal plane of a lens24, between which and the plate there is normally interposed a shutter(not shown) actuated by a shutter arm 25.

Arranged in the hood 10 is an electric incandescent or other form oflamp 26 which has suitable connection, by means of wires 26, withthe'exterior electric circuit 16, said lamp being adapted to be flashedby the operation of a suitable arm 26 connecting with a link 26 andwhich has pivotal connection with a bell crank lever 26 mounted to swingWithin the hood 10". A casing 27 provided with an opening'27, is securedto thefront of the box 10. said opening 27 being in alinement with thelens 24 and said casing extending upwardly. to connect with the hood'10". The shutter arm 25 is arranged within said casing and has its freeend eccentricallv connected to a disk 25 keyed upon a shaft 25 connectedby means of suitable toothed wheels 25 and 25, respectively, with theshaft 23 and whereby the rotation of the shaft will impart rotation tothe disk 25, thus resulting in the operation of the shutter arm 25 at aa predetermined moment --and which is accurately determined by havingsome of the teeth on the toothed wheel 25 cut away therefrom so that thetoothed wheel 25 will have teeth only on a portion of its pe- 13oriphery, which teeth, when meshing with the toothed 'wheel 25, willresult in the operation of the disk 25, thus causing the operation ofthe shutter arm 25 and the resultant operation of the shutter. Connectedwith the shutter arm 25 at its point of connection with the disk 25 isan upwardly extending lever or arm 26 connecting with the free end ofthebell crank lever 26 whereby the incandescent lamp 26 will emit a flashof light through the medium of the operation of the connection betweenthe bell crank lever and the lamp, upon the rotation of the disk 25 andat the moment that the shutter of the lens is actuated, it being thusreadily seen that at the moment the shutter is opened to expose thesensitized face of the plate inthe'plate holder the lamp 26 will beflashed upon the f 1 standing in front of the lens and whose pic ture isto be taken, thus resulting in the re-E production being properlyreceived upon the sensitized face of the plate, it being further seenthat after the shutter has been once operated and the lampsimultaneously flashed, said shutter operating mechanism and lampoperating mechanism will remain in stationary position in view of thefact that the toothed wheel 25 is partially stripped asmentionedheretofore and only. operates when the few teeth thereon come,In contact with the toothed wheel 25 car ried bv the shaft on which isarranged the disk 25. It will now be apparent that after the shutter hasbeen actuated the desired image or picture will have been transmitted tothe sensitized face of the plate carried in the holder 21. A stud shaft27. is journaled in the box and by means of suitablebeveled gearing 27connects with a shaft erate the link 27 and thus swing the plate,

holder 21 forwardly so that the plate will be ejected therefrom, asshown in Fig. 11, the detailconstruction'of the plate holder beingclearly shownvin Figs. 8 and'10. It will be further seen that uponfurther rotation of the cam 27 the plate holder, after i the plate hasbeen eiected therefrom, will be returned to initial position as shown infull lines in Fig.11, the dotted lines indicating the tilted position ofthe plate holder.-

Supported on the platform 13 is a developing tank 29 and adjacent thedevelop; ing tank-there is provided a finishing tank 30, the developingtank 29 having an outlet pipe 31 and the finishing tank having anoutletpipe 32 extending exteriorly of the box 10. Journaled in the developingtank 29 are a plurality of rollers 29 over which passes a continuousbelt 29 formed to provide a plurality of opposed trays 29, the belt andtrays being preferably formed of rubber, with the plate, when ejectedfrom the plate holder as shown in Fig. 11, being adapted to be receivedin one of the trays 29 as shown in thelast mentioned figure. Referringto Fig, 12, it will be seen that there is provided a reservoir 30*-having an outlet pipe 30 arranged above the developing tank so that thedischarge will pass into one of the trays 29, said discharge from the.outlet pipe 30 being controlled by a suitable spring-actuated Valve 30towhich is connected an operating rod 30a'ha ving pivotal connectionwith an operating link 30 pivoted on thebox l0 and-having one endthereof adapted to be engagedby a pin 30 on a disk 30 carried on theshaft 23 and adapted to rotate With the shaft to result in the'operationof the link 30 and rod 30 and bring about the opening of the valve 30 sothat a quantity of "the developing fluid in the reservoir 30 will bedischarged into one of the trays 29 when the pin 80 engagestthe link, 30said valve 30 being spring-controlled to immediately close after beingactuated, thus shutting 05 all further supply of developer to the tray.

One of the rollers 29 carries a grooved Wheel 30 and which passes acontinuous belt 30 and which in turn passes around a grooved wheel 30carried on a shaft 30 which carries a toothed wheel 30. At the momentthat the plate has been received in the tray and a sufficient quantityof developing fluid discharged into the said try the developing actionof the plate takes place and the tray is then advanced by the rotationof the roller 7 having the heretofore mentioned connection wi h theshaft 23. thus advancing the tray to a position where, when the traymoves out of its horizontal plane to discharge its fluid contents intothe developing tank, the developed plate will be received upon a ledge37 on the finishing tank 30, said plate being advanced thereon. by theadvancem'entof the cilitate the finishing thereof, while it is beingwashed, in the tank. The plate or 'filmis then advanced between aplurahty of'co-acting rollers 32" similar to the rollers 32* and thenpasses out from the box through the hood 10 to be delivered to thepurchaser The operating of the co-acting rollers 32 and 32 is effectedby means of suitable the brush, through the medium of the gear 32 isalso continuously rotated so as to effectively act upon the film orplate when the same is received in the finishing tank, the said rollersoperating to advance the film or-plate to the tank and discharge thesame through the discharge hood 10.

Referring now to Figs. 15-, 16 and '17 it will be seen that in. Fig. 15is .shown the partially stripped toothed wheel 25? meshing with thetoothed wheel 25, said toothed wheel 25 being carried on the shaft 23.It is through the medium of this toothed wheel in its rotation that theshutter and flash are operated, and, referring now to Fig. 16, it willbe seen that carried o'nthe shaft 23- is the partially stripped gear 28'of the gearing 28 and which meshes with a toothed wheel 28 carried onthe shaft 27, thus in the rotation of the wheel 28 effecting theoperationof the plate holder whereby the plate will be ejected into oneof the trays in the developing tank. Referring now to Fig. 17, it willbe seen that the toothed wheel 30 meshes with a partially strippedtoothed wheel 30" carried on the shart 23 and which, inits rotation,effects the advancement of the pliable belt and developing trays in thedeveloping tank. Thus it will be apparent that by having various gearspartially stripped the operation of each part of the machine isaccomplished in a step by step process and as one part starts operatingto accomplish one result and then stops, an

other part, through the medium of the partially stripped gear, isbrought into play to effect the next step in the advancement of theplate or film and its subsequent finishing and developing to the endthat the finished picture will subsequently be discharged through thedischarge spout 33.

The plate or film, which is indicated by the numeral 20, is preferablyso formed that it need not be, subsequent to its development, subjectedto a printing process to bring out the picture, it being a plate or filmhaving a sensitized composition thereon, which, when subjected to theaction of a developing fluid and then finished, will have the pictureitself represented upon the plate or.

film, something on the order of the well known daguerreotvpe and thelike. NQW referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will'be clearly apparent thatwhen the last operation takes 4 place, namely, the discharge of theplate or film through the discharge spout, it is necessary to bring theentire machine to a stop,

with each part arranged in its initial position so that it can besubsequently operated to photograph and develop the next picture. Itwill be remembered that when the plunger 14 was initially actuated afterthe de-' I positing of the coin in the coin .box, the subsequentadvancement' of the plate l4 into contact with the inner end of the coinbox closed an electric circuit, thus resulting in the operation of themotor. To break this circuit there is on the slowly rotating shaft 18a-disk or cam 34 carrying a beveled projection 34" which is adapted toengage a 1at erally projecting finger 34 on a spring-en- 'gaged' rod 34suitably journaled in a hearing '34 secured in the box and which rod 34is insulated at its inner end and is adapted to be pushed against thecontact plate 14 when the finger 34? is engaged by-the projection 34 sothat the insulated inner end of the rod 34 will move the contact plate14 out of contact with the inner end of the coin box, thus breaking thecircuit and resulting in the discontinuance of rotation of t the motor,this operation resulting upon a complete revolution of the disk 34 andimmediately after the plate or film has been ejected through thedischarge spout 33. The machine will now be in initial position andready to expose, develop, finish and deliver another plate to anotherprospective purchaser when said purchaser inserts a coin into the coinchute 12 and operates the plunger 14. 1

From the foregoing description it will be clearly seen that all of theparts of the machine co-act to produce the desired result, namely, amachine which is entirely automatic in its operation; which ispreferably coin-controlled and whereby, upon the advancement of a coininto the machine and the initial operation of a single part thereof, allof the remaining parts will relatively co-act and cooperate throughtheirmutual association to move the plate or film into proper position behindand in alinement with the lens; expose the plate or film by theoperation of the shutter and the 'simultaneous operation of the flashlight and then advance the plate or film into one of the trays of thedeveloping tank to be acted upon by a quantity of developing fluid atthis time ejected into the tray of the tank, after which the plate orfilm is advanced to pass between rollers in the nature of Squeegees andthen subjected to a. washing and finishing operation, the last and finalstep being the discharge of. the plate or film through the dischargespout into the hand of the purchaser. the entire machine being thenautomatically stopped and ready for the next picture.

a hood, a film magazine slidably supported for horizontal movementwithin'the box and having a series of film compartments, a

swinging film holder arranged below the magazine and adapted forregistration with the compartments therein for successively receivingfilms therefrom, means for advancing the magazine, means for locking themagazine against advancement, developing and finishing tanks arrangedbelow the film holder, movable-trayssupported within the developingtank, means for supolving developing fluid to said trays, means foradvancing a film from each tray to one of the hoods for discharging saidfilm from the box, driving means within the box and having connectionsfor operating the film holder, trays and'lock for the magazine, andmeans for starting and stopping the driving means. 7

2. An automatic photographing and developing machine comprising a boxhaving a hood, a film magazine slidably supported for horizontalmovement within the box and having a series of film compartments, aswinging plate holder arranged below the magazine and adapted forregistration with the compartments therein for successively receivingfilms therefrom, means for ad vancing the magazine, means for lockingthe magazine against advancement, developing and finishing tanksarranged below the plate holder, movable trays supported within thedeveloping tank, means for supplying develo'pingfluid to said trays,means for advancing a film from each tray to one of the hoods fordischarging said films from the box, driving means within the box andhaving connections for operating the .plate holder, trays and lock forthemagazine, means for starting and stopping the driving means, a lenson said box for exposing films within the plate holder, a second hood,an illuminating element arranged in said second hood, and means forflashing the illuminating element and adapted to control a shutter forthe lens and operated by the driving means. Y I

3. An automatic photographing and developing machine comprising a boxhaving a hood, a film magazine slidably supported for horizontalmovement within the box and having a series of film compartments, aswinging film holder arranged below the magazine and adapted forregistration with the compartments therein for successively receivingfilms therefrom, means for advancing the' magazine, means for lockingthe magazine against advancement, developing and finishing tanksarranged .below the film holder, movable trays supported within thedeveloping tank, means for supplying developing fluid to said trays,means for advancing a film from each tray to one of the hoods fordischarging said film from the box, drivingmeans within the box andhaving connections for operating the film holder, trays and lock for themagazine, means for starting and stopping the driving means, a lens onsaid box for exposing films Within the film holder, a second hood,anilluminating elementarranged in said second hood, means for flashingthe illuminating element and adapted to control a shutter forthe lensand operated by the driving means, and intermittently operable means forcontrolling the means for supplying the developing fluid to the traysand actuated by the connections with the driving means.

veloping machine comprising a box having 4 ahood, a film magazineslidably supported for horizontal movement within the box and havin aseries of film compartments, a swinging film holder arranged below themagazine and adapted for registrationwith the compartments therein for.successively receiving films therefrom, means for advancing the magazin,means for locking the Inagazme against advancement, developing andfinishing tanks arranged below the film holder, 'movable trays supportedwithin the developing tank, means for supplying developing fluid to saidtrays, means for advancing a film from each tray to one of the hoods fordischarging said film from the box, driving means within the box andhaving connections for operating the film holder, trays and lock for themagazine, means for starting and sto ping tlie'driving means, a lens onsaid box For exposing films Within the film holder, a second hood, anilluminating element arranged in said second hood, means for flashingthe illuminating element and adapted to control a shutter for the lensand operated by the driving means, intermittently operable means forcontrolling the means for supplying the developing fluid to the traysand actuated by the connections with the driving means, and means foroperating the film holder to move the same from normal exposing positionto ejecting position and operated by the driving means.

5. An automatic photographing and developing machine comprising. a boxhaving a lens in its front, developing and finishing tanks arrangedwithin the box, means for feeding films from the developing tank to thefinishing tank and also for automatically discharging such films from.the box, movable developing trays arranged within the developin tank,means for supplying developing fiuid to the trays, means operated by thedriving means for controlling the supply of fluid from said means to thetrays,

a film holder swingingly supported in the box for supporting a film inthe path of the lens and also for delivering it into the trays, a filmmagazine movable fgr communication with the film holder and adaptedto-successively feed films thereto, means for moving the film magazine,means for locking the magazine against movement,2and means operated bythe driving means for automatically releasing the said locking means. i

6. An automatic photographing and developing machine comprising a boxhaving a lens in its front, developing and finishing tanks arrangedwithin the box, means for feeding films from the developing tank to thefinishing tank and also for automati cally dischargingsuch films fromthe box, movable developing trays arranged within the developing tank,means for supplying developing fiuid to the trays, means operated by thedriving means for controlling the supply of fluid from said means to thetrays, a film holder swingingly supported in the box for supporting afilm in the path of the lens and also for delivering it into the trays,

' ed to successively feed films thereto,.means for moving the filmmagazine, means forlocking the magazine against movement, means operatedby the drivlng means for automatically *releasing the said lockingmeans, and means for starting the driving means and .for automaticallystopping the same. v

7. An' automatic photographing and dethe trays,

a film magazine movable for com-- munication with the film holder andadapt-' veloping machine comprising a box having a lens in itsfront,developing and finishing tanks arranged within the box, means forfeeding films from the developing tank to the. finishing tank and alsofor automatically discharging such films from the box, movabledeveloping trays arranged within the developing .tank, means forsupplying automatically releasing the said locking means, means forstarting the driving means and for automatically stopping the same, a

hood von said box, illuminating means within said hood, and meansoperated by the driving means for controlling the illuminating means andalso adapted to control a shutter for the lens.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

CLINTON F. ROTH. ROBERT A. KELLER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM. R. Krsn, G. B. F. DIALY.

film holder swingingly supported

